Forum
to Be Held for Council Seat; Koontz Shows Interest in Position

Candace
Braun

A new approach will be taken this year to fill mayor-elect
Joseph O'Neill's Council seat in the Borough, as the Princeton
Borough Democratic Committee will hold an open public meeting
for all interested Borough residents.

Mr. O'Neill, who won
the November election for Borough mayor, must resign his current
seat on Council before taking his new position. The councilman's
term expires on December 31, 2004. He was first elected into his
position in November 2001.

Because of this, the Democratic
Committee must find three candidates to present to the Council
so that they may vote on a replacement. The public meeting on
Sunday, December 14 will give the Committee the opportunity to
look at interested candidates.

"We'd like to give the
candidates an opportunity to speak and take questions," said
Andrew Koontz, chairman of the Committee.

Mr. Koontz, a
Borough resident for 11 years, said he is interested in becoming
Mr. O'Neill's replacement on Council.

"We're heading
into a new era, and an exciting time in Borough politics,"
he said. "I'd like to help shape the direction of the Council,
at least for the next year."

The Borough resident works
for CBS Television in New York as a video editor. He is a graduate
of New York University's Film School, with a B.S.A. in film studies.
He is married, with no children.

Mr. Koontz has been chairman
of the Borough's Democratic Committee since 1997, and president
of the Princeton Community Democratic Organization for three years.
He is also vice president of PALE ALES, a club for residents that
brew their own lager.

Broadening Horizons

The Committee
usually chooses three candidates they would like to see serve
on Council that have been chosen privately, said Mr. O'Neill.
This year, candidates will have the opportunity to express their
interest in the position in a public environment.

"To
my knowledge, this has never been done before," said Mr.
O'Neill. After the public forum, the Committee will choose three
candidates for consideration, and then Council will pick one candidate
to fill Mr. O'Neill's unexpired term.

"Theoretically
[candidates] can be of any political party," said Mr. Koontz.
However, because it is the responsibility of the Democratic Committee
to choose a replacement, most likely Democrats will be chosen
as the three candidates, he said.

The Committee has 15 days
after Mr. O'Neill's resignation to pick three candidates to fill
his unexpired term. Mr. O'Neill's replacement must run in the
next election if he or she would like to continue serving on Council.

An
appointment for the seat will probably be made at one of Borough
Council's three meetings in January. It could take place as early
as the first Tuesday in January, said Borough Clerk Andrea Quinty.

Mr.
O'Neill will be sworn in as mayor on January 4, when he will simultaneously
resign his position as councilman. Although the mayor is able
to vote on Council issues when there is a tie, Mr. O'Neill will
not have the opportunity to vote on his replacement on Council.
With only five members of Council voting, a tie-breaker will not
be necessary.

The public forum will take place on December
14, at 7:30 p.m., in the Suzanne Patterson Senior Center behind
Borough Hall.